Government Boosts Employment Through Strategic Economic Programs

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartanto gives a press statement to the press at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (9/15). (Photo: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

The Government has affirmed its commitment to expanding employment opportunities through economic policy packages aimed at increasing labor absorption.

These initiatives were also discussed during a limited meeting chaired by President Prabowo Subianto at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (9/15).

In his press statement following the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the President is giving close attention to several strategic programs with a direct impact on labor absorption.

The first program highlighted was the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperatives).

“First, the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih involves 80.000 cooperatives, which are estimated to absorb 681.000 workers and are targeted to employ up to 1.000.000 workers by December 2025,” said Airlangga.

In addition, the Program Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (Red and White Fishing Village Program) has also been designated as a priority, with a target of establishing 100 fishing villages by 2025. This program is expected to boost labor absorption in line with the growth in the number of fishing villages.

“The target for this year (2025) is 100 (fishing) villages, which are expected to absorb 8.645 workers. In the long term, the Government is targeting 4.000 fishing villages, which are estimated to create 200.000 jobs,” he said.

The Government is also prioritizing the maritime sector by revitalizing aquaculture ponds along the northern coast of Java, covering an area of 200 hectares and estimated to absorb up to 168.000 workers.

In addition to these programs, the modernization of fishing vessels was also discussed as one of the main agenda items in the meeting.

“There will be 1,000 new fishing vessels, which are estimated to create around 200,000 new jobs. The fleet will consist of 30 GT and 150 GT vessels designated for the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih. In addition, for State-Owned Enterprises or Jaladri (PT Agrinas Jaladri Nusantara [Persero]), the allocation includes 1,000 units of 30 GT vessels, 150 units of 150 GT vessels, 200 units of 200 GT vessels, 170 units of 300 GT vessels, 10 units of 600 GT vessels, and 2 units of 2,000 GT vessels.

Beyond the maritime sector, the Government is also prioritizing the people’s plantation program through the replantation of 870,000 hectares of land plantations.

“It is hoped that more than 1.6 million jobs can be created with priority commodities such as sugarcane, cocoa, coconut, coffee, cashew, and nutmeg,” he concluded.  (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of the Presidential Secretariat) (TCUD/EP)